Starch ing-machine



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No. 520,668. Patented May 29, 1894.

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Patented May 29.1894. Y

A. CONKLING.

STARGHING MACHINE.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Patented May 29, 1894.

ALLEN CONKLING, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

sTARoHINc-MACHINE. Y

SPECIFICATION forming partof Letters Patent No. 520,668, dated May 29,1894. Application fled October 19, 1893. Serial No. 488,561. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALLEN CONKLING, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chi` cago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Starching-Machines, ofwhich` the following is a specication, reference being had therein tothe accompanying draw- 1n s.

gIhis invention relates to certain new and useful improvements instarching machines in which the goods are placed between rellers and thestarch forced through the goods and the surplusstarch squeezedtherefrom. Heretofore this has usually been done through the medium of afoot treadle, but it has been found that by this method each articledoes not get the same amount of pressure and consequently not the sameamount of starch; besides some portions of the bosom of a shirt forinstance will receive more starch than other portions, resulting in avery unsatisfactory finish as some parts will become soft.

One of the primary objects of this invention is to overcome theseobjections, which I do by working the rolls automatically, whereby theparts may be adjusted so that each shirt bosom shall have the sameamount of pressure and all parts of the bosom receive the same amountofstarch which has been found to be essential to good results.

Another object of the invention is to prevent the caking or burning ofthe starch as well as its clinging to the sides or bottom of the starchreceptacle. This I accomplish by the employment of an agitator in thestarch receptacle, and, by suitable mechanism, actuate this agitator toprevent the starch from becoming caked or baking on the walls of thereceptacle and also insuring its being evenly cooked. Thisagitator-actuating mechanism acts in conjunction with the devices whichoperate the movable squeezing roll, and means are provided for heatingthe starch. The rolls between which the goods are passed are preferablyof a yielding nature and have 1ongitudinal creases or ribs which serveeffectually in squeezing the starch from the goods as the latter arepassed therebetween.

The features above outlined constitute the essence of the presentinvention, but at the same time I aim at improvements in the 'details ofconstruction as will appear as the description proceeds.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear,and the novel features thereof will'be specifically defined by theappended claims.

The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings,which, with the 1et ters of reference marked thereon, form a part ofthis specification, and in which-- Figure l is an end elevation of myimproved starching machine. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig.3 is a top plan with a portion of one of the squeezing rolls brokenaway. Fig.`3 is a cross section through the starching rolls. Fig. 4 is adetail in elevation of the devices which actuate the movable roll. Fig.5 is a detail of the cam and rock-arm for actuating the agitator.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring now to the details of the draw-- ings by letter, A designatesthe frame of the machine of suitable form and a are tie rods for theusual purposes of such devices.

In suitable boxes or bearings ou this frame is journaled the horizontalshaft B provided with the band pulleys B designed to be connected by abelt (not shown) with any suitable source of power whereby the operativeparts may be driven. On one end of the shaft B is a sprocket wheel B2around which passes a sprocket chain C, which also passes over asprocket Wheel C which is loosely mounted on a shaft C2 parallel withthe shaft B and on substantially the same horizontal plane, and over asprocket wheel D on a shaft D suitably journaled in the frame above theshafts B and C:2 as seen best in Fig. l. A belt tightener C5 of anysuitable form may be employed as shown in Fig. 1.

E is the box or receptacle within which the starch is to be contained;it is preferably though not necessarily of copper. The starch may becooked or kept warm in any suitable Way, as for instance by a steam pipeE receiving steam from any suitable source passing into the box near thebottom thereof as shown in Fig. 3, or as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 2 there may be a shallow pan E2 which forms in reality a part ofthe box or ICO vessel and into this pan the steam pipe may empty asindicated in said Fig. 2. Suitable means as a cock or faucet e may beprovided for drawing olf the starch when necessary, and a similar devicee may be employed for drawing off the water of condensation from the panor space beneath the bottom proper of the box or vessel, as seen in Fig.l.

F is the relatively fixed roller; it is preferably of rubber or someyielding material and is also preferably creased or ribbedlongitudinally as seen at fin Fig. 3a; this roll is carried by the shaftD.

, G is the co-operating roll; it is preferably similar in all respectsto the roll F and the corrugations are arranged to intermesh more orless loosely as may be found most expedient, depending in a measure uponthe character of the goods being operated upon. The goods, after beingdipped in the starch in the box or vessel, are passed through betweenthese rollers and the starch forced through the goods and the surplusstarch squeezed therefrom. The shaft G carrying the roller G is mountedin boxes or bearings g as shown more clearly in Fig. 4, which boxes aremounted to slide in the bearings G2 which are carried at the upper endsof the rods or arms H, one at each side of the machine as seen best inFigs. 2 and 3, the lower ends of which are loosely sleeved upon stubshafts H', projecting from the frame as seen best in Fig. 2, and rigidtherewith are the cam-arms I which rest upon the cams J fast on theshaft O2, and arranged beneath the free ends of said cam-arms as shownbest in Fig. 4. The boxes g are held under spring tension by the springsg as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and this tension may be regulated oradjusted by means of the set screws g2. The roller G is held from itswork by the springs G5 attached at one end to the arms or rods H and attheir other end to the frame as shown in Fig. l.

On the shaft C2 is an eccentric K which is arranged to work within thefork or bifurcated end of the arm K which is fulcrumed at its upper endon a boss 7c on the frame, a short shaft k running through this boss asseen in Fig. 2 by dotted lines and Fig. 3 in full lines and connectedwith the upper end of a rod or arm L the lower end of which is connectedwith the lateral projection m extending from one corner of the agitatorM which is mounted to reciprocate in a plane substantially parallel withthe bottom of the starch receptacle, and in this instance is shown as inthe form of a rectangular gridiron-like casting having at each corner alug or projection m2 arranged to slide in the guides m3 on the bottom ofthe box or vessel as. shown clearly in Figs. 2 and 3. The form ofagitator however is not essential neither is the manner of mounting itwithin the box or vessel.

On the shaft B is a small pinion N which meshes with a small pinion N ona stub shaft extending from the frame and this latter pinion meshes withthe largepiuion O on the shaft C2 to give proper direction to therotation thereof.

With the parts constructed and arranged substantially as above set forththe operation is as follows: The starch is placed in the box orreceptacle and heated and cooked by the steam (or it maybe in any otherconvenient way), and the shirts or other articles are dipped in thestarch and then passed through between. the rolls F and G which squeezethe surplus starch therefrom. The cams and eccentric are so timed as toactuate the movable roll and the agitator at proper intervals, the rollsremaining in operative relation for a sufficient length of time topermit of the passage of the shirt between them and then they areseparated. The movement of the agitator is back and forth, caused by the'rocking or swinging of the arm K rst to one side and then to the otherby the eccentric as will be understood from Fig. 5.

It will be observed that the operation or movements of the agitator andmovable roll are automatic and that the amount of pressure on each shirtmust be the same and each shirt bosom will receive a like amount ofstarch throughout its entire surface.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from thespirit of the invention or sacriiicing any of its advantages.

What I claim as new is l. In a starching machine, the combination withthe rolls, one Iixed and the other movable, of means for automaticallyactuating the movable roll as set forth.

2. In a starching machine, a movable starchextracting roll, and anagitator operatively arranged for automatic, simultaneous and conjointaction, as set forth.

3. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll, ofmovable bearings in which the shaft thereof is mounted to move, armscarrying said bearings and provided with lateral portions, cams actingupon the under side of said portions, and means for actuating the cams,substantially as specified.

4. In a starching machine, the combination withamovable roll, ofelongated bearings for the shaft thereof each having ayielding seat,arms mounted for oscillatory movement and carrying said bearings,andmeans acting upon lateral portions extending from said arms foroscillating the arms, as set forth.

5. In a starching machine, the combination with a fixed roll and amovable roll, of oscillating arms carrying supports for the shaft ofsaid movable roll, cams for actuating the arms, and means for theautomatic actuation of said cams, substantially as specified.

6. The combination with a starch box and the fixed and movable roll, ofan agitator within the starch box independent of said rolls and mountedfor reciprocatory movement, an oscillating arm connected therewith andan eccentric for operating said arm, as set forth.

7. The combination with the starch box and IOO IIO

IIS

an agitator therein independent of the starchapplying devices, of anoscillating arm connected with the agitator and having its lower 'endbifurcated, and an eccentric mounted to Work between the arms of thebifurcation, as set forth.

8. In a starching machine, the combination with a movable roll and anagitator mounted for reciprocatory movement, of vautomatic cooperatingdevices for simultaneously actuating said roll and agitator, as setforth.

9. In a starching machine, the combination H. H. HOER, GEORGE CRAYROBERTS.

